Applicator with multiple offset booms and method of controlling the same

Abstract

An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field. The applicator includes a supply compartment to hold the product, a pneumatic conveying system, a metering system, and a controller. The pneumatic conveying system includes first delivery line operably connected to an airflow source and to the supply compartment, and a second delivery line operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment. The metering system includes a first metering device associated with the first delivery line and a second metering device associate with the second delivery line. The controller controls the air flow source, the first metering device to meter product to result in a first mixed flow of airflow and product for the first delivery line, and the second metering device to meter product with the airflow to result in a second mixed flow of airflow and product for the second delivery line.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of the delivering of particulate product by an agricultural product delivery applicator, the applicator comprising a primary boom arm having a first application section, the applicator further comprising a secondary boom arm having a second application section, the secondary boom arm being offset from the primary boom arm in a front-rear direction of the applicator, the method comprising:
 activating an airflow source to provide an airflow of a pneumatic conveying system; 
 controlling a first air pressure control valve to allow the airflow through a first delivery line operably coupled to the airflow source, the first delivery line including a first plurality of outlets supported at the first application section; 
 controlling a second air pressure control valve to allow the airflow through a second delivery line operably coupled to the airflow source, the second delivery line including a second plurality of outlets supported at the second application section; 
 controlling a first metering device associated with the first delivery line at a first time to provide product to the first delivery line resulting in a first mixed flow of airflow and product; and 
 controlling a second metering device associated with the second delivery line at a second time to provide product to the first delivery line resulting in a second mixed flow of airflow and product, the second time being after the first time. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow source is a variable airflow source, wherein the first air pressure control valve is a first variable air pressure control valve, and wherein the first metering device is a first variable metering device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first metering device includes a first metering wheel and a first motor operating the first metering wheel, and wherein the controlling a first metering device includes controlling the first motor to operate the first metering wheel at a rotational speed. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary boom arm has a further application section,
 wherein the pneumatic conveying system comprises a further delivery line, the further delivery line being operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment, the further delivery line including a further plurality of outlets supported at the further application section, 
 wherein the metering system comprises a further metering device associated with the further delivery line, 
 the method further comprising controlling the further metering device at a third time to provide product to the third delivery line resulting in a third mixed flow of airflow and product, the second time being after the third time. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the third time is determined with respect to the first time based at least in part on a difference in lengths between the first application section and the further application section. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second time is determined with respect to the first time based at least in part on a distance of the offset between the first boom section and the second boom section in the front-rear direction. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator further comprises a third boom arm having a third application section, the method further comprising:
 controlling a third air pressure control valve to allow the airflow through a third delivery line operably coupled to the airflow source, the third delivery line including a third plurality of outlets supported at the third application section; and 
 controlling a third metering device associated with the third delivery line at a third time to provide product to the third delivery line resulting in a first mixed flow of airflow and product, the third time being after the second time. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the third boom arm and the second boom arm are offset in the front-rear direction of the applicator. 
     
     
       9. A method of the delivering of particulate product by an agricultural product delivery applicator, the applicator comprising a primary boom arm having a first application section, the applicator further comprising a secondary boom arm having a second application section, the secondary boom arm being offset from the primary boom arm in a front-rear direction of the applicator, the method comprising:
 activating an airflow source to provide an airflow of a pneumatic conveying system; 
 controlling a first air pressure control valve to allow the airflow through a first delivery line operably coupled to the airflow source, the first delivery line including a first plurality of outlets supported at the first application section; 
 controlling a second air pressure control valve to allow the airflow through a second delivery line operably coupled to the airflow source, the second delivery line including a second plurality of outlets supported at the second application section; 
 controlling a first metering device associated with the first delivery line at a first time to provide product to the first delivery line resulting in a first mixed flow of airflow and product; 
 controlling a second metering device associated with the second delivery line at a second time to provide product to the first delivery line resulting in a second mixed flow of airflow and product, the second time being after the first time; 
 controlling a third air pressure control valve to allow an airflow through a third delivery line operably coupled to the airflow source; and 
 controlling a third metering device associated with the third delivery line at a third time to provide product to the third delivery line resulting in a first mixed flow of airflow and product, the third time being after the second time. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the applicator further includes a third boom arm having a third application section,
 wherein the third delivery line includes a third plurality of outlets supported at the third application section, 
 wherein the first delivery line provides the first mixed flow of airflow and product to the first application section, wherein the second delivery line provides the second mixed flow of airflow and product to the second application section, and wherein the third delivery line provides the third mixed flow of airflow and product to the third application section. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary boom arm is rearward of the primary boom arm in the front-rear direction of the applicator. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the primary boom arm includes a further application section,
 wherein the third delivery line includes a third plurality of outlets supported at the further application section, 
 wherein the first delivery line provides the first mixed flow of airflow and product to the first application section, wherein the second delivery line provides the second mixed flow of airflow and product to the second application section, and wherein the third delivery line provides the third mixed flow of airflow and product to the further application section.